Apparatus for pressure charging aerosol dispensers with push buttons attached and for automatically controlling the operation of such apparatus



Aprll 20, 1965 oc 3,179,132

APPARATUS FOR PRESSURE CHARGING AEROSOL DISPENSERS WITH PUSH BUTTONS ATTACHED AND FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF SUCH APPARATUS Filed Nov. 30, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. J/m/ P/c/mev For/{7' H THOR/V5) April 20, 1965 oc 'r 3,179,132

APPAR 5 RP SSURE CHARGING AEROSOL DISPE s WITH PUSH T s A 0 AND FOR AUTOMATICALLY OLLING THE RATION OF SUCH APPARATU 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 30, 1961 INVENTOR. FEM/v Ema/4 0 FOO/7' April 20, 1965 J. R. FOCHT 3,179,132-

APPARATUS FOR PRESSURE CHARGING AEROSOL DISPENSERS WITH PUSH BUTTON S ATTACHED AND FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF SUCH APPARATUS Filed NOV- 50, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR.

H TTOFNEY United States Patent APPARATUS FOR PRESSURE CHARGING AERO- SOL DISPENSERS WITH PUSH BUTTONS AT- TACHED AND FOR AUTOMATICALLY CON- TROLLliNG THE OPERATTDN OF SUCH APPA- RATUS John Richard Focht, Yonkers, N.Y., assignor to Precision Valve Corporation, Yonkers, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 156,045

Claims. (Cl. 141-40) This invention is a method of and apparatus for pressure charging aerosol dispensers with push buttons at tached and for automatically controlling the operation of such apparatus.

Aerosol dispensing packages commonly comprise a metal can having a top opening sealed by a mounting cup on which is supported a manually operable valve having a tubular valve stem surmounted by a push button by means of which the valve stem may be depressed to open the valve and permit the discharge of the contents of the can through the push button. The cans contain a so-called active ingredient which it is the primary purpose to dispense, together with a propellant.

For many years the standard method of filling and charging these aerosol dispensing packages is to fill the can with the desired quantity of active ingredient, then apply the mounting cup with valve thereon, and then introduce the propellant into and around the valve stem before the push button is applied to the valve stem.

To accomplish this result, the charging apparatusis provided with a charging head which is brought into sealing engagement with the rim of the mounting cup, the valve stem is depressed and the propellant is then fed through the filler head and through the valve stem into the can. There has never been heretofore any satisfactory method or apparatus devised for charging the can with propellant with the push button in position on the valve stem. Consequently the push buttons are supplied separately from the mounting cups with valves thereon, and after the can is charged with propellant, the filler is required to individually attach a push button to each valve stem. This operation involves time and cost factors which it is highly desirable to eliminate.

In my copending applications, Serial No. 47,439, filed August 4, 1960, now U.S. Patent No. 3,103,956, and Serial No. 115,589, filed April 24, 1961, I disclosed and claimed different forms of apparatus wherein it was made possible to assemble the valve with the push button attached,

so that these parts could be supplied as a unit to a filler who, by virtue of the mechanism disclosed in said prior applications, could charge the can with the push button attached and thus obviate the necessity of the subsequent step of attaching the push button after the can had been charged with the propellant. This novel precedure, employing the apparatus stated, met with immediate acceptance by the trade for it very appreciably lessens the work of the filler and also overcomes the possibility of inadvertently discharging some of the contents of a charged can during the application of a button by such filler.

The present invention serves the same general purpose as hereinbefore stated with respect to the inventions of my said copending applications, but in addition thereto provides for improved automatic control of the filling operation through the use of novel mechanism hereinafter described in detail.

Features of the inventions, other than that specifically referred to, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and appended claims when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction shown therein is for the purpose of illustration only and not as defining the limits of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a central section on the line 11 of FIG. 2, showing the parts in normally inactive positions.

FIG. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a section on the line 55 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a view like FIG. 1 but shows the parts in the relation which they assume during the charging operation.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a conventional can, having a top filling opening provided with a marginally curled edge 2 to receive in sealing relation the marginal curl 3 of a mounting cup 4. The cup has a central crown 5 in which is supported a valve having a tubular valve stem 6 projecting upwardly therefrom. A push button 7, such, for example, as shown in Robert H. Abplanalp Patent No. 2,884,207 is mounted on the valve stem and is placed thereon by the valve manufacturer at the time of assembling the cup, valve and button for shipment to a filler. The push button 7 is provided with a discharge orifice leading from an expansion chamber within the button and the expansion chamber is in communication with a socket in the bottom of the button to receive the valve stem 6. All of these parts are well known.

The apparatus of the present invention is in the nature of an adapter, whereby a pressurized propellant may be fed from any suitable source as, for example, through a head h, FIG. 6, on a charging machine through the adapter to the valve operating push button and through thedischarge orifice of said button into the ,valve stem and thence into the can 1. j

The adapter shown in the drawings comprises an upper section 8 and a lower section 9, which sections are vertically movable relative to one another, as Well as in concert in an axial direction. The upper section 8, for the purpose of convenient manufacture, embodies three parts 10, 11 and 12 secured to one another in superimposed relation so that said upper section constitutes a rigid assembly. The lower section 9 is formed from two parts 13 and 14 which are rigidly secured to one another.

Positioned in the uppermost part 10 is a slide 15 of hollow cup-shaped formprovided in its bottom with an opening 16. In this slide is positioned a compression spring 17, interposed between the base of the hollow slide and a perforated disk 18 which is locked in place by a split ring 19. The spring 17 normally forces the slide to a seat in the cavity 20 of the part 10 in which said slide is positioned.

Supported on the slide 15, to project below the lower surface thereof, are two upper valves 21, arranged diametrically of the slide and these valvesare adapted to cooperate with elastic O-rings 22 which form valve seats therefor. Said O-rings are supported in circular depressions 23 in the upper surface of the part 11; An elastic packing ring 24 is positioned in the joint between the sections 10 and 11 to preclude leakage between these sections. Registering with each of the valve seat O-rings 22 and extending vertically through the section 11 are two passages 25 which extend downwardly to a chamber 26 at the base of the part 11.

Positioned coaxially of the part 11 and extending from near, the top thereof to the bottom of said part is a cylindrical socket 27 in the lower portion of which is positioned a plunger 28. This plunger is equipped with a packing ring 29 and is provided at its lower end with a sealing member shown as an insert 30 of Teflon or some other wellwearing meterial adapting it to cooperate with a lower valve seat 31 having a vertical central passage leading to radiating passages 32 in a lower valve seat member 33. The socket 27 is peferably vented to the atmosphere, so that gaseous pressure cannot build up therein above the plunger 28. 7

Between the upper end of the plunger 28 and the socket 27 are interposed one or more springs 34 which normally maintain the insert in engagement with the valve seat 31. The part 12 of the upper section 8 is provided with a shoulder 35 which clamps valve seat member 33 rigidly in place between said shoulder and sealing washer 36 and below said shoulder said par-t 12 is provided with a downwardly projecting tubular cylindrical portion 37, the lower end portion of which is counter-bored to receive a shank of an annular resilient gasket controlling member 38, the lower portion of which is beveled as shown at 39.

The upper part 13 ofthe lower section 9 is adapted to receive threaded studs 40 which extend upwardly and pass loosely through the lowermost part 12 of the upper section and are enlarged at 41 to provide heads which rest upon the upper surface of the part 12 and limit the downward movement of the section 9 with respect to the upper section. These two sections are normally held in the distended relation shown in FIG. 1 by springs 42, but are adapted to approach one another and partake of the relative positions shown in FIG. 6 as hereinafter described.

The parts 13 and 14 of the lower section are rigidly secured to one another, as hereinbefore stated, and they are collectively provided with a coaxial bore 43 which closely embraces the cylindrical section 37 of the part 12 and the resilient member 38. This bore 43 is provided at its bottom with an inwardly projecting annular flange 44 forming a seat for a washer 45 with a superimposed O-ring gasket 46 normally loosely surrounding the crown 5 of the can 1.

Seated upon a radially extending flange 47 of the part 11 is a ring 48. This ring is composed of two semicircular parts, the opposite ends of which form a half lap joint with one another and are secured together by socketed screws 49, as shown best in FIG. 3. The ring .48 carries two pins 50 which project into cavities 51 in part 11 and underlie upright rods 52 (see FIGS. 1 and 3). These rods extend upwardly through passages in the parts 11 and 10 and engage the slide 15.

The foregoing apparatus operates in the following manner:

When the actuating part it of FIG. 6 is lowered so that the parts partake of the position shown in FIG. 1, further downward movement of the head it will first cause the lower section 14 to bear firmly upon the part 3 of the can cup 4. As such downward movement continues, the lower section 9 will remain stationary on the can while the upper section 8 will continue its downward movement. As this movement proceeds, the upper section will be lowered with respect to the lower section, so that the frusto conical or tapered portion 39 of the resilient member 38 will be forced downwardly to peripherally engage .the O-ring gasket 46 and cause a tight constriction of said O-ring about the crown 5 of the can, to form a hermetic seal therewith and to also form a hermetic seal between the resilient member 38 and the wall of the bore 43, so as to preclude leakage at both of these locations. In this way the charging chamber C, in which the assembled can parts are housed, will be hermetically sealed.

As downward movement of the section 8 continues, the studs 40 will remain stationary with the lower section 9, so that the upper surface of the flange 47 of the part 11 will withdraw downwardly from the ring 48. However, during this'operation the rods 52 will remain stationary and, as the upper section 8 continues to descend, they will serve to immobilize the slide 15, whereby the valves 21 will be withdrawn from their O-ring seats 22, as shown in FIG. 6. This will permit propellant under pressure to flow from the head It downwardly through the slide 15, valve seats 22, and passages 25 to the chamber 26 at the bo om of such passages. In the meantime the valve seat member 33 has descended into contact with the upper end of the valve operating button 7 and has depressed said button to open the valve of the container.

As the pressure of the propellant builds up in the chamber 26, the force thereof will act against the lower surface of the plunger 23 and will overcome compressive forces of the springs 34, to lift the insert 34 of the plunger from the valve seat 31, whereby such propellant may pass through the lower seat 31 and through the passages 32 into the charging chamber C, which is at this time sealed by a gasket 36.

From the chamber C, some of the propellant enters the interior of the button through the discharge orifice thereof and passes downwardly through the valve stem and open valve into the can 1. Additional propellant enters the can around the exterior of the valve stem and unseated valve. The can is thus expeditiously and effectually charged.

When the can has been fully charged through the introduction of a predetermined amount of propellant a head h is elevated carrying with it both upper and lower sections which are, by this movement, returned to the position of FIG. 1, leaving the can fully charged and ready to be replaced by the next can to be charged through a repetition of the operations stated.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms, but the invention is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An adapter for pressure charging an aerosol dispenser container having a discharge valve provided with a valve operating stem, said adapter comprising: a housing having therethrough a passage, the lower end of which forms a chamber to be hermetically sealed about the valve stem and a surrounding portion of the container when the adapter is pressed against the container, a nor mally sealed lower valve seat in said passage leading into said chamber, a mechanically operated upper valve also within said passage in the housing in advance of the lower valve seat to control the fiow of propellant to the lower valve seat, mechanical means operable by pressing the adapter against the container to open the upper valve, means to depress the valve stem of the container to open the valve thereof when the chamber is hermetically sealed, and a spring biased diiferential pressure operated valve member between the upper valve and the lower valve seat normally engaging'said lower valve seat and adapted to unseal the lower valve seat when the pressure of the propellant in said passage between the upper valve and the lower valve seat is suflicient to overcome the spring pressure on the differential pressure operated valve member.

2. An adapter according to claim 1, wherein the up per valve is operated by a spring biased slide in said passage.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising: relatively movable upper and lower sections, the latter of which is provided with a charging chamber to receive and enclose a portion of the container to be charged, such enclosed portion including a valve stem, means for hermetically sealing said charging chamber about the enclosed parts of the container when the lower section is depressed by the upper section into engagement with the container, means for depressing the valve stem of the con tainer to open the valve of the container when the lower section is thus depressed, a lower valve seat having a passage leading to the charging chamber, a plunger the lower end of which is adapted for engagement with said lower valve seat, a spring acting on the upper end of the plunger to normally force the lower end of the plunger I into engagement with said lower seat, said upper section being provided with an inlet cavity for propellant under pressure, a passage leading from said inlet cavity to convey propellant under pressure upwardly against the plunger to retract the lower end thereof from the lower valve seat when such pressure of the propellant against the plunger exceeds the pressure of the spring acting on the upper end of the plunger, a spring biased slide in the inlet cavity, a normally closed upper valve operable by said slide to control the entrance of propellant into said passage, pins rigid with the lower section, and push rods interposed between said pins and the spring biased slide to actuate said slide and open the upper valve when the lower section is depressed by the upper section.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said pins are carried by a ring connected by studs to the lower section.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said studs are limiting studs to control vertical separation of said sections, and springs interposed between said sections for normally vertically separating them in the absence of depressing pressure applied to the upper section.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS I. DEMBO, Examiner. 

1. AN ADAPTER FOR PRESSURE CHARGING AN AEROSOL DISPENSER CONTAINER HAVING A DISCHARGE VALVE PROVIDED WITH A VALVE OPERATING STEM, SAID ADAPTER COMPRISING: A HOUSING HAVING THERETHROUGH A PASSAGE, THE LOWER END OF WHICH FORMS A CHAMBER TO BE HERMETICALLY SEALED ABOUT THE VALVE STEM AND A SURROUNDING PORTION OF THE CONTAINER WHEN THE ADAPTER IS PRESSED AGAINST THE CONTAINER, A NORMALLY SEALED LOWER VALVE SEAT IN SAID PASSAGE LEADING INTO SAID CHAMBER, A MECHANICALLY OPERATED UPPER VALVE ALSO WITHIN SAID PASSAGE IN THE HOUSING IN ADVANCE OF THE LOWER VALVE SEAT TO CONTROL THE FLOW OF PROPELLANT TO THE LOWER VALVE SEAT, MECHANICAL MEANS OPERABLE BY PRESSING THE ADAPTER AGAINST THE CONTAINER TO OPEN THE UPPER VALVE, MEANS TO DEPRESS THE VALVE STEM OF THE CONTAINER TO OPEN THE VALVE THEREOF WHEN THE CHAMBER IS HERMETICALLY SEALED, AND A SPRING BIASED DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE OPERATED VALVE MEMBER BETWEEN THE UPPER VALVE AND THE LOWER VALVE SEAT NORMALLY ENGAGING SAID LOWER VALVE SEAT AND ADAPTED TO UNSEAL THE LOWER VALVE SEAT WHEN THE PRESSURE OF THE PROPELLANT IN SAID PASSAGE BETWEEN THE UPPER VALVE AND THE LOWER VALVE SEAT IS SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME THE SPRING PRESSURE ON THE DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE OPERATED VALVE MEMBER. 